Carbine Williams: In The Sights Of A Weapons Genius

[@michaelatkins9780]

I still live about 20 miles from Godwin NC and grew up in the 60's and 70's. Very few people knew of this man contributions at the time, even though there was a Hollywood movie about the man. Schools didn't teach him in history classes. I'd say that was the beginning of gun control over the young growing up then however, we still had gun racks and guns in them during hunting season. Leave school go dove hunting till dark.

[@donaldmcswain]

If you would like to see his gun shop, it is on permanent display at the North Carolina State Museum of Archives. It was photographed, disassembled and transported to the museum and reassembled indoors. It includes very small lathes that I suspect were used for firing pins. He had a history of making tools to make tools.

[@coldcase5844]

Does it include the gun he used to murder that police officer with?

[@donaldmcswain]

@@coldcase5844 Well I am pretty sure you are trolling for attention and I normally do not fall for that. But, in this case I will reply. If you have read anything about that situation, you will understand that one strong point in his character was that he was stubborn, independent and strong willed. In that area, in those days moonshining was a flourishing activity and he got heavily involved. Yes, a police officer was killed during a raid on one of his stills. No, it was not proven that he fired the shot that killed the officer. He did not think he would be convicted when charges were brought, and the first trial was a mistrial. In those days, there were not the tools that would be used these days to match ballistics and so on, he was brought to trial as the leader of the group, and allegedly the best shot, but it was a general gun battle and confused so it could likely have never been proven who actually fired the fatal shot. All that aside, he took a plea deal to avoid a second trial, and thought the sentence would be light, but he was sentenced to life. Given that, his stubborn streak was still driving him, and he did not make a model prisoner. He got into trouble and ended up on the chain gang. These were the most punitive portion of the prison system and stayed in crude camps and did hard labor during the day. They were subjected to harsh physical punishment for causing problems. He was on one occasion put in the hot box. A small cramped enclosure and stayed there for weeks because he would not agree to calm down. He felt that he had done nothing to warrant the punishment and refused to comply. That is where he thought of the ideas for the floating chamber and short stroke piston actions that enabled his future designs that lead to smaller, lighter weapons like the M1 Carbine and adapter kits to convert larger caliber weapons to fire the smaller, cheaper .22 load for training. Saving money on the training ammo and saving the more valuable ammo for the war. So, it IS possible that he did kill an officer, and I agree he deserved to serve his sentence for that, but his work lead to advances that helped overcome big evil caused by the Axis powers in WWII. Does this balance the scales of Justice? I don't know, certainly not for the family of the slain officer, but give credit where it is due. He was a genius with machines and the stubbornness that put him in trouble to begin with paid off when he built the weapon using crude tools and crude supplies to develop the prototype weapon that is on display.

[@alungiggs]

Fascinating. I’d never heard about him before. Thanks for posting.

[@Targetteer1]

What an outstanding documentary. Just wonderful to see the laid back introspective life style of those times and to learn about the history of this man. Just watching and seeing the relaxed matter of fact wearing of the Colt in a cross draw holster and at times in the back pocket carry without stirring any excitement what-so-ever I found very relaxing and a commentary to the right to be armed as a common man. Thanks for the vid.

[@larryalexander4833]

Just wanted to say thank you to whom posted this documentary. Very interesting and informative.

[@GalloPazzesco]

Wow! Wow! Wow! What a great documentary about a great man! 👍🏼 Subscribed, bell rang, commented, liked, upvoted (#2), shared .... may the algorithm gods smile favorably upon your channel!

[@Paladin1873]

I wonder what the draftsman and machinist at Winchester got for their monumental achievement of actually making the first carbine prototype work in time for the Army test trials. Williams was a genius and brilliant craftsman, but like Eugene Stoner and the AR15, he did not design and build the rifle he is most identified with. His primary contribution was his short stroke gas system, but then he left the project. Without his gas system Winchester would not have been able to meet the stringent Army test requirements, but that was only one part of this rifle. Heaping all the praise on him creates an unintentional disservice to others who arguably made even greater contributions to the M1 program.

[@scottwilson1258]

Thank You Gentlemen for your Film on this Legend. I until didnt know much but have enjoyed shooting a Few of his designs ,after watching your Film I feel as though I know much more of how importantrtant simple Men made such a difference in the World.Good ol American Ingenuity!

[@daviddaniels6473]

I grew up near Ahoskie NC back in the early 70's. Served in the Army. At Fort Bragg. Wore that black beret. Never heard of this gent. Thank you for enlightening me!

[@tiffanyconner6955]

My dad was a section foreman for the Seaboard Coastline Railroad which later eventually came to the name CSX which runs thru Godwin NC. One of his railroad men Ronnie Tew lived in Godwin and still does today. Ronnie would tell my dad about his Granddad and Carbine Williams who were friends and how Carbine helped win the war by inventing the repeating weapon. The next time I'm in Godwin I think I'll get Ronnie to show me where Carbine lived and tell me some of his stories about him.

[@unboostedpueeblood]

You can tell a lot about a man when he cleans his tools and machines when he's done. You can tell he handled a few guns to learn about what one needs to make it work. He's joined by the best gun makers in history, he's certainly in great company.

[@Rustebadge]

Sorry but David Williams was not a genius and was really a jerk who got in the way much of the time he was employed at Colt and Winchester. He did NOT invent the M1 Carbine, only the short-stroke gas tappet system.

[@unboostedpueeblood]

@@Rustebadge Where in my comment did I specify that he was a genius? I merely stated that he understood firearms enough to have contributed. Nice try though.

[@subterfusion4005]

He absolutely was a genius firearms inventor. Man had no formal training but could conceive and manufacture firearm assemblies such as the short stroke piston, floating chamber, etc. He made firearms including blow forward (as opposed to blowback) action in a prison machine shop out of salvaged scrap metal, car axles and leaf springs, while incarcerated as a murderer.

[@DFox-ud3gx]

Nice to see that 1911 open carry. Thats normal back in the day.

[@cockedandlocked9765]

Let us not forget he didn't think it couldn't be accomplished for the military trial date. He wanted nothing to do with the development of the gun. Not even his name associated with it. Two Winchester employees are the true heroes of finishing the M1 carbine for production

[@GenX-Grampa]

Right! He gets too much credit! Had they not kicked him off the team for dragging his feet and being hard to work with, we would NOT have the M1 Carbine and only another one off prototype! Forgotten Weapons did an excellent video in this!

[@steventhubbard]

The finishing of the firearm wasn't the thing that made the M1 special the free floating chamber and the use of part of the gas making floating chamber a short-stroke gas piston. He received multiple patents. Given his first "protypes" he made out of wood so he could then move on to metal after fashioning many of the tools he need he he was after all serving 30 years for 2nd degree murder.

[@carbinewilliams9943]

I became a regular 'Telephone Buddy' of Ross Beard, Jr., Williams's biographer. Also, I had a good few hilarious conversations with Williams's younger brother, Gordon, who was, at the time 93 years old! Interesting conversations that included some information that cast a completely different light on events of that day of the moonshine raid... and of the days that followed. I will keep that stuff to myself. I had the pleasure of speaking to Carbine's son David Jr. Over the months, I also spoke to Ross and we exchanged mail, (both ways) which included rare literature. On Williams's inventions, I am the proud owner of a Winchester Model 50 and two #59s. The latter with the 'glass' barrel is used regularly by our son who trains newcomers to clay shooting at our local club. Also, I obtained a DVD of the above video directly from Martin and we exchanged a few phone calls and emails.

[@gillisBR549]

Yes that was a great book he did on Carbine

[@darrengilbert7438]

My grandfather knew him and bought moonshine from him in Harnett County, in NC

[@daltongoodwin449]

The T-model Ford came with a steering column already drilled to size for .22, hence no need for a drill. Mr. Williams was no doubt aware of this somehow. My dad and his brother used to light off .22 shells by placing them in a model T steering column and hit them with a hammer.

[@indigohammer5732]

The British Morris Minor has a similar design in it’s steering column in that it can chamber a 12G shotgun cartridge. This was widely utilised during the Civil War in Sri Lanka.

[@Biggerfoot]

This is all a man wants in life.

[@savagestevens6398]

At 32:10 they mention and are somewhat puzzled that the Remington model 8 has a “small” “sling swivel” on its forend. In actuality that wasn’t a sling swivel. It was the screw that was used to remove the forend and subsequently remove the barrel since the model 8 was a takedown rifle. Williams can be seen in the old footage removing and reattaching the barrel. The small forend screw had a loop which resembled a sling swivel but smaller that could be used to turn the screw by hand.

[@hennies9509]

When my wife saw that brush, she looked at me and said, "That is you." I use a good paintbrush 75mm Congo Hamilton pure bristle that is about 40 years old. I showed my son, and he started using one as well.

[@sharonwolford5870]

I remember watching a movie about him staring Jimmy Stewart, I think!

[@capncharlie7894]

best episode of antiques roadshow ever filmed

[@clarkhowle8731]

Never hear of him but thanks for posting the Vid. Very smart man!

[@allens9573]

I've been around guns for 30 years I know the history of all the great makers, but I have never heard of carbine Williams. I'll be doing more research on him. Thanks.

[@mariochavezmoo9619]

No solo las manos le ubiesen besado si no asta los pies.☝️

[@danthurman9076]

I first watched the movie in the late 60's. Amazing what can be made and designed in side of those cold stone prison walls.

[@savage22bolt32]

Thanks for the wonderful video, and a huge thanks for not ruining it with crappy background music. I don't know why some people are compelled to add annoying background music throughout their videos.

[@skivvy3565]

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing this

[@savage22bolt32]

Tell St Peter at the Golden Gate, I just hate to make him wait, but I just gotta have another cigarette!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Thanks for posting a well-made documentary.

[@gillisBR549]

Wife’s grandpa talked about “Carbine” to me years ago, he would see him at family reunions ( his great uncle) … my mother in law bought me a copy of the book “Carbine Williams” , he was a mechanical genius

[@KPMACHINE1]

Great to see another genius at work

[@alexwest4362]

Wow I live 4 miles from Ft. Bragg and never knew any of this. I definitely will be going to the Museum in Raleigh

[@travhammer]

Absolutely amazing.

[@YuTbCensorship]

I remember the Jimmy Stewart Movie on TV years ago.

[@savannahdennis9351]

No one talks about this man because he was a successful criminal

[@joesolley7407]

Nice. Very informative.

[@ATINKERER]

The was GREAT!

[@JoseCastillo-yx6ot]

I just learned about the man through a coworker who had his shot gun worked on by Mr Williams, I'm in Cumberland county

[@miked8227]

Awesome piece of history you brought to us, I actually live within a stones throw of Williams Gun sight a famous manufacturer and firearm Store in Michigan probably not any connection to Carbine Williams though.

[@jamestregler1584]

I seem to recall a movie about him from my childhood 😇

[@stellar1620]

1952 James Stewart

[@carbinewilliams9943]

@@stellar1620 TURNER MOVIES

[@charliemowry774]

Very good movie 😊😊😊

[@anthonyblacker8471]

Very interesting documentary. What a legend!

[@brassmonkey7566]

Very interesting I'd heard his story but never before seen any of his work. Cool

[@charlesdowrick2075]

Very impressive documentary.

[@davidhansen4471]

that was great thanks guys

[@randalkidd7562]

My friends grandpa was in prison with him, and they become friends.

[@richardlawton1023]

Nice, my dad talked a lot about the M1.

[@captaincrustyradio]

The AI big brother suggested this for me . Great video.

[@jason60chev]

In the movie, it showed Williams filing a slot into the top of the butt stock, for each year that he had worked on the rifle.

[@josephpadula2283]

Always remember Now he could never touch a weapon or ammo since he was a felon!

[@johndeach4573]

That was then , this is now.

[@ColKorn1965]

One of my neighbors was William's barber at some point

[@alward9901]

It’s probably been mentioned already. I remember the movie with Jimmy Stewart . Carbine Williams old black & white i think from the 50’s .

[@toldyouso5588]

Imagine my suspense at the beginning when you said he lived about a 150...(not years) yards from his shop...

[@Pushyhog]

we've done so much with so little, we can do anything with absolutely nothing.

[@Bill23799]

Did you reinforce the flooring and support members under that milling machine?

[@bighairyfoot1217]

..Hail Yeah..

[@gillarochelle325]

The truth of it is thecarbine functions even without the piston!

[@BarnyDaddy]

I saw Jimmy Stewart’s movie.

[@chrisbarbour9765]

I believe old no. 7 machine gun is what gave the idea for the ge mini gun!

[@indigohammer5732]

Ever heard of Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling?

[@bobkohl6779]

Winchester WAR. VERY rare rifles

[@randalkidd7562]

Can anyone remember a man who made a machine gun that shot 22's. He was trying to sell it for police dept's / fbi whoever ! He was at greensboro gunshow one time w/the gun on display / cut in half ! It shot so fast/ shooting stinger 22's ,belt fed ! He was selling videos of his gun ...The gun was deemed inhumane.! They showed him shooting a side of Beef ,and it was incredible rate of fire and devastating to flesh! Can anyone remember mans name for me

[@8MADJACK]

Tippman? There was also the American 180 which I geard was used un some prison systems

[@larryalexander4833]

Hello i live in SC near NC line. Surprisingly i have never heard of this gentleman. Is the museum display still open ? And its location? I had seen the carbine Williams movie years ago but didn't know the name of the movie . Thanks so much always wanted to be able watch it again.

[@Rustebadge]

The movie was a movie, not an accurate historical representation.

[@larryalexander4833]

@@Rustebadge I know this about the movie but was unaware of the exact figure it was about or of the history behind his life.

[@EDKguy]

There is a collection of his guns and prototypes at the Camden Archives in Camden SC. Small, but very interesting place to visit. (Not the museum in the video though)

[@larryalexander4833]

@@EDKguy thank you

[@ScoutSniper3124]

Forgotten Weapons needs to do an episode on this machine gun, including some range time. Ian, are you listening brother?

[@yksikaksikolmen]

For all of you who wanna learn the art of chain smoking, see and learn :)

[@visionsick]

It’s really too bad they didn’t use a noise gate. That static is too much for me. I’m sure it’s a great story.

[@user-oe3dr9ij8k]

just watch the movie with Jimmy Stewart

[@kawicrash]

See.... Car-bine, not Car-been

[@Cabmaker]

I always thought John Browning invented the m1 carbine

[@Adamu98]

Browning died about 15 years before the m1 carbine was invented.

[@alanniederlitz8630]

A GENIUS, carryin a 1911

[@user-sq9dv7ru7v]

Any machinist who operates a machine while wearing a tie is no genius.

[@usnchief1339]

it's a clip on...just genius!

[@davidhamilton7628]

​@@usnchief1339haters sad

[@silverhammer7779]

Probably staged for the photo. Around rotating machinery, neckties jewelry and long sleeves are an invitation to disaster, and Williams would know this.

[@Rustebadge]

More of a jerk than a genius. GM Inland had to keep him out of the way to make progress on their programs. He did some inventing and modifications but really very little. nice work.

[@miked8227]

Could you further explain your statement I’m not that familiar with this person and his history, Why did he end up serving time in prison

[@Rustebadge]

@@miked8227 Longer story than time allows. He was a moonshiner and killed a deputy sheriffs during a still raid I believe. He did not invent the M1 Carbine and actually got in the way of engineering while employed at Winchester. The Winchester CEO, President and M1 Carbine program administrator Mr. Pugsley said that "Carbine" Williams could not think fast enough to keep up with the Winchester design team and pitched a fit like a baby when he didn't get his way. Pugsley assigned Williams to tasks that would keep him busy while the design team worked on the carbine. Williams only invented the short-stroke tappet system used on the Carbine. Much of the system was thought out by Ed Browning, the brother of Johnathan Moses Browning before his death while employed at Winchester. He did invent or co-invent a few other items most notably the floating chamber. The Hollywood movie is just that, a Hollywood movie.

[@rifleshooterchannel208]

@@RustebadgeThat’s a pretty stupid thing to lock a man up for.

[@Rustebadge]

@@rifleshooterchannel208 Yes, Murder should be removed from all law books. Maybe it should be like a traffic ticket - just a minor offense. He murdered someone idiot.

[@rifleshooterchannel208]

@@Rustebadge He went to that cop’s house and killed him?

[@chrisbrowne4669]

There is a movie about Williams starring Jimmy Stewart. Better than this video,

[@mandtgrant]

See, there was a time when Americans knew it was a carbine, not a car-been

[@timothyconcepcion9914]

I watcched about 9-10 minutes of the vid without No Detailed information on Who this gentleman was. Maybe your intro of this documentary vid should be rethought for people who have no clue who he was. Just saying.

[@GenX-Grampa]

Very talented? Absolutely! A “genius”? No. He gets way too much credit for the M1 Carbine only because he came up with the tappet piston. But he was kicked off the project because he dragged his feet and was extremely difficult to deal with! Had he been kept on the team we would actually NEVER have gotten the M1A Carbine and only had another one off prototype to be shown and asked “what if?”! He also wasn’t unique to the use of wood “models” for concepts. John M. Browning among MANY others would do the same thing!

[@mariochavezmoo9619]

ASTA SE ESPANTA EL NEGRO QUE CLASE DE ARMA ES ESA.